The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) is seeking approval to change its Functional Affirmative Action Program (“FAAP”) requirements. The proposed directive, for which comments are due by November 13, 2018, proposes sweeping changes to the current FAAP directive, with the stated aim of encouraging contractors to use FAAPs.
BREAKING: FAR Council Publishes Final Rule On Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces (“Blacklisting”) Executive Order
Today, the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council (“FAR Council”) published the final rule regarding the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”), better known as the “blacklisting” rule. The Order imposes a host of new obligations on government contractors with more than $500,000 in government contracts, including an obligation
OFCCP Announces New Veteran Hiring Benchmark
Yesterday, OFCCP announced its 2016 Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Benchmark. The new benchmark is 6.9%, slightly lower than the previous year’s 7% benchmark.
The VEVRAA Benchmark is the figure which federal contractors must use to assess the effectiveness of their outreach programs for the hiring of veterans.
DOL Files Discrimination Suit Against Baltimore-Based Federal Contractor
The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has filed a lawsuit before the Office of Administrative Law Judges against WMS Solutions LLC (“WMS”) alleging violations of Executive Order 11246. Executive Order 11246 prohibits discrimination in employment by federal contractors on the basis of race,
Tampa Council Says No to “Ban the Box” Law for City Contractors, Seeks Alternative Legislation
Last Thursday, Tampa’s City Council declined to pass a law that would have “banned the box” for city contractors. “Ban the box” refers to a movement at the state and local levels of government to remove the check box from job applications that ask whether the candidate has a criminal
California’s Fair Chance Employment Act Targets Construction Contractors
A new California law took effect January 1 that requires employers making bids on state contracts involving “onsite construction-related services” to certify they have “banned the box” on applications for onsite construction-related employment. As such, the new law prohibits oral or written inquiries into the applicant’s conviction history on or
Veterans Employment Center Announced
Last week the White House announced the implementation of an online employment tool to assist contractors, service members, veterans and their families. The Veterans Employment Center is the result of an interagency effort to simplify the process for veterans and their spouses to seek and obtain gainful employment. The website
Obama Requests Increased OFCCP Funding in FY 2015 Budget
On March 4, 2014, Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez released OFCCP’s FY 2015 budget request, which includes a request for over $107 million in funding for OFCCP’s operations. This amount represents a $3 million increase over 2014, including funding for an additional 10 full-time equivalent employees.
Significant in the FY 2015 budget is a request for an additional $1.1 million dedicated to strengthening efforts to eliminate pay discrimination affecting women. The 10 additional employees requested in the budget are intended to support this effort. OFCCP’s augmented focus on pay equity in FY 2015 continues OFCCP’s focus on compensation issues, including the issuance of a recent Directive concerning compensation analyses and audits and a notice of rulemaking concerning a new compensation data collection tool.
Other highlights include:
White House Announces Additional Executive Orders For Federal Government Contractors
President Obama is expected to sign two executive orders that will impose additional compliance obligations on federal government contractors. The first order will reportedly bar federal contractors from retaliating against employees for discussing pay issues with co-workers. The President is also expected to sign a second executive order directing the
OFCCP Adds New Resources to Disability and Veterans Community Resources Directory
Last month, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) created the Disability and Veterans Community Resources Directory. The goal of the Directory is to assist contractors in locating community and other resources for recruiting veterans and individuals with disabilities. The Directory contains a non-exhaustive list of groups and organizations